• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 1995

Several studies showed that the immunological factors such as CD4+ cell number, CD4%, CD8+ cell number and CD4/CD8 ratio and the serological factors such as, ${\beta}^2$-microglobulin(${\beta}^2$-MG), neopterin, soluble CD4, and soluble CD8 are related to the risk of development of AIDS. Especially, the CD4+ cell counts have been used to monitor progresson of HIV disease, to stratify, and to follow patients in clinical trials. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDCP) in USA has made the CD4+ cell count as a part of the classification of HIV disease. It is composed of 3 categories such as 1, 2, and 3 which asr $\geq$ 500/$mm^3$, 200/$mm^{3} $\geq$ and < 500/$mm^3$, and < 200/$mm^3$, respectively. In this study, to estimate the differences of immunological factors between HIV-infected and normal human groups in Korea, CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells, and the CD4/CD8 ratio were measured in 185 HIV-infected subjects and 140 healthy adult subjects. The lymphocyte subsets such as CD4+ T and CD8+ T were analysed by flow cytometer(FACStar) with two-color immunofluorescent stain using monoclonal antibodies such as anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 antibodies. The absolute numbers and percentages of CD4+ T and CD8+ T and the CD4/CD8 ratio of HIV infected persons were $462\pm{277}/mm^3$, $18.2\pm7.7%$, $1,170\pm{534}/mm^3$, $47.0\pm10.6%$ and $0,43\pm0.26 whereas those of uninfected persons were $886\pm{299}mm^3$, $32.9\pm{7.0%}, 730{\pm}259/mm^3$, $26.8\pm6.4%$ and $1.31\pm0.46$(P<0.01). In addition, estimating the reference values of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets of Korean, the absolute numbers and percentages of CD4+ T and CD8+ T and the CD4/CD8 ratio of 140 healthy adults persons were measured and compared with those of foreigners. The reference ranges of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4％, CD8%, and the CD4/CD8 ratio and 1.31$\pm$0.46, respectively. The significant differences were not observed when compared with those of foreigners. However a little difference was observed in the percentages of CD4+ T and the absolute numbers of CD8+ T between the normal values of Korean and those of foreigners were $43.6\pm8.9%$, $560\pm{230}/mm^3$. This result can also be useful as a basic data for the treatment and surveillance of HIV-infected patients in Korea.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.674-679
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• 2009

Purpose : The authors aimed to analyze the long-term effects of treatments, especially external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), in bilateral retinoblastoma patients. Methods : This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of 22 bilateral retinoblastoma patients who were registered between October, 1987 and October, 1998 and followed-up for more than 10 years. They were treated by enucleation, EBRT, and systemic chemotherapy. Age at diagnosis, sex, delay prior to treatment, Reese-Ellsworth (RE) classification, and the local treatment modalities were analyzed in relation to recurrence-free survival (RFS) and complications. Results : Median age at diagnosis was 7.0 months (range 1.7-31.6 months). Leukocoria was the most common presenting feature. Two patients had a familial history. The RE classifications of the 44 eyes were group II in 4, III in 14, IV in 4, and V in 22. At the end of a median follow-up period of 141 months (range 55-218 months), 20 patients were alive. The 10-year ocular survival rate of the 44 eyes was $56.8{\pm}7.5%$. The 10-year RFS and ocular survival rate of the 29 eyes treated by combined EBRT and chemotherapy were 75.9% and 86.2%, respectively. Treatment delay (>3 months) was found to be related to higher risk of recurrence. Complications after EBRT were cataract, retinal detachment, phthisis bulbi, and facial asymmetry. No patient developed a second malignancy during the follow-up period. Conclusion : Early detection and prompt treatment can increase ocular survival rates. In addition, careful attention should be paid to possible long-term sequelae in these patients.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.628-634
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• 2008

In recent years, cross-contamination has become one of the noticeable issues in dental clinic. Two major routes of contamination are the direct-contamination through blood and oral secretion and the indirect-contamination through dental office equipments. Especially, air-contamination through air-floating pollutant in a confined space like hospital, and also contamination through aerosol ejected from high-speed handpiece in a dental office was interested. The purpose of this study was to understand risk of bacterial infection through aerosol from handpiece in a dental office, which will help the practitioner with prevention of contamination during dental treatment. The main findings are as follows. 1. In a comparative test, the group using handpiece has higher bacterial number than the group not using handpiece with significant statistical difference(P<0.01). 2. The group using handpiece with rubber dam has lower bacterial number than the group using handpiecewithout rubber dam with significant statistical difference(P<0.01). 3. Comparing the group using drainage water with the group using distilled water as a handpiece water source results in 22.4 cfu and 17.0 cfu respectively but the difference is no statistically significant(P>0.05). 4. Measuring cfu at 0.5m and 1.5m distance, 0.5m distance showed higher bacterial number with statistical significance(P<0.01). 5. Classification of bacterial types showed the largest bacterial number came from gram-positive micrococcus(73.9%), and gram-negative micrococcus, gram-negative bacillus, and gram-positive bacillus follow in descending order.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.109-113
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• 2006

Purpose: Various minimally invasive surgical techniques, such as an endoscopic mucosal resection and a laparoscopic gastrectomy, are becoming common practice for some cases of early gastric cancer (EGC) defined in terms of the depth of invasion being limited to the mucosa or submucosa. However, there are rare cases of early gastric cancer with massive lymph-node metastasis. Materials and Methods: From 6 university hospitals of Korea, 2,772 EGC cases were resected during the various period of analysis (1,432 cases of mucosal cancer and 1,340 of submucosal cancer). Results: As control data, we used the data from a single institute, CHA University Hospital. There were nine cases of early gastric cancer (9/2,772, 0.32%) with N3 lymph node metastasis defined by more than 15 lymph nodes being metastasized according to the UICC-TNM classification (pT1N3, stage IV). Two cases were mucosal cancer (2/1,432, 0.1 4%), and seven cases were submucosal cancer (7/1,340, 0.52%). Metastasized lymph nodes varied in number from 18 to 52. There were three male and six female patients with a mean age of 57. This is a totally reversed sex ratio compared to the usual gastric cancer or EGC. Among the total of 9 EGC patients, there were 5 who had superficial spreading carcinomas with surface areas larger than $25\;cm^2$. This is a significantly higher proportion compared to the general EGC population. When we compared the tumor size according to the LN status, the N3 group was definitely larger than the other groups. 78% of the pT1N3 cases showed lymphatic invasion, which is very high compared to the 4.7% in general EGC cases. Among the 9 cases, 6 patients had too short a follow-up period to evaluate the correct prognosis, but there was one patient with a non-curative resection and two patients with early recurrence. Although the sample size is small and the follow-up period is short, we can expect a very poor prognosis when we consider the common prognosis of EGC that is widely known and accepted. Conclusion: From these results, we can a conclude that the risk factors for pT1N3 gastric cancer are female patients, submucosal invasion, larger tumor size, and lymphatic invasion. However rare, the existence of pT1N3 gastric cancer needs to be taken into consideration, especially during the diagnosis. Furthermore, minimally invasive treatment for EGC needs to be chosen with great precaution. Since the prognosis of pT1N3 gastric cancer is expected to be poor, aggressive adjuvant chemotherapy may be necessary. (J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc 2006;6:109-113)

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.155-168
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• 2002

Purpose; Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) is an autoimmune disease with multi-system involvement and renal damage is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Renal involvement is more common and severe in children than in adults. Therefore, renal biopsy plays a crucial role in planning effective therapy. In this study, we investigated the clinical and pathological findings of lupus nephritis in children to aid clinical care of the disease. Methods: The clinical and pathological data of 40 patients who were diagnosed as SLE with renal involvement in Shinchon Severance Hospital from Jan. 1990 to Sep. 2002 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The ratio of male to female patients was 1:3 and the median age at diagnosis was 12.1(2-18) years old. FANA(95.0%), anti-ds DNA antibody(87.5%), malar rash(80.0%) were the most common findings among the classification criteria by ARA. Microscopic hematuria with proteinuria(75.0%), nephrotic syndrome(55.0%), and microscopic hematuria alone(15.0%) were the most common renal presentations in the respective order at diagnosis. There were 27 cases with WHO class IV lupus nephritis confirmed by renal biopsy and 3 cases with pathological changes of WHO class type. Different treatment modalities were carried out : prednisolone only in 5 cases, prednisol-one+azat-hioprine in 9 cases, prednisolone+azathioprine+intravenous cyclophosphamide in 14 cases, prednisolone+cyclosporine A+intravenous cyclophosphamide in 12 cases, plasma exchange in 9 cases and intravenous gamma-globulin in 2 cases. The average follow-up period was $51.8{\pm}40.5$ months. During $51.8{\pm}40.5$ months. During follow-up, 4 patients expired. The risk factors associated with mortality were male, WHO class IV and acute renal failure at diagnosis. Conclusion: Renal involvement was noted in 63.5% of childhood SLE, and 67.5% of renal lesion was WHO class IV lupus nephritis which is known to be associated with a poor prognosis. Therefore aggressive treatment employing immunosuppressant during the early stages of disease could be helpful in improving long-term prognosis. But careful attention should be given to optimize the treatment due to unique problems associated with growth, psychosocial development and gonadal toxicity, especially in children.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.376-382
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• 2012

Environment-friendly agro-materials are are likely to be preferred to chemical insecticides recently. For this reason, many studies are conducted to develop environment-friendly insecticides containing natural materials. This study was also conducted so as to assess ecotoxicity for Emulsifiable concentrate (EC) containing 30% of garlic extract or two plant essential oils (Zanthoxylum, Lemongrass) expected to prevent from pests and be used for agro-materials. Target species used to assess acute toxicity were invertebrate (Daphina magna), fish (Oryzias latipes), honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) and earthworm (Eisenia fetida). The $EC_{50}$ values for of garlic extract 30% EC, Zanthoxylum oil 30% EC and lemongrass oil 30% EC to Daphina magna were 3.3, 10, and $10mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The category of garlic extract 30% EC was moderately toxic, while those of Zanthoxylum oil 30% EC and lemongrass oil 30% EC were slightly toxic according to standard of USEPA. $EC_{50}$ for both of Zanthoxylum oil 30% EC and lemongrass oil 30% EC were more than $10mg\;L^{-1}$ then they were considered as slightly toxicity. In case of acute toxicity test to fish, $LC_{50}$ of garlic extract 30% EC was $3.3mg\;L^{-1}$. Zanthoxylum oil 30% EC and lemongrass oil 30% EC indicated $LC_{50}$ > $10mg\;L^{-1}$. Classification of acute toxicity to all test substances was in Korea criteria. Acute contact and oral toxicity test to Honeybee were conducted. As a result, $LD_{50}$ of all test substances were more than 100 a.i. ${\mu}g\;bee^{-1}$ in the acute contact test while $LD_{50}$ of garlic extract 30% EC was 4.4 a.i. ${\mu}g\;bee^{-1}$ and $LD_{50}$ of Zanthoxylum oil 30% EC and lemongrass oil 30% EC were more than 100 a.i. ${\mu}g\;bee^{-1}$. In case of acute toxicity test to earthworm, $LC_{50}$ of garlic extract 30% EC, Zanthoxylum oil 30% EC and lemongrass oil 30% EC were 267, 592, and $430mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. In conclusion, if the safety for earthworm is confirmed, these substances are expected to be use for environment-friendly insecticide materials with low risk against ecosystem and contribute to developing environment-friendly agro-materials.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.321-329
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• 1997

Purpose : It is well known that the risk of lymph nodes metastases to head and neck cancers are influenced by the location and size of the Primary tumor. as well as the degree and types of histological differentiation. However, data on the statistical analyses of lymph node metastases from the head and neck cancers among Korean Population are not available at present. In order to obtain current status of such data, we have analyzed cancer patients at the department of radiation oncology, korea universityhospital for radiation treatment. Materials and Methods : We have evaluated nine-hundred and ninetyseven (997) head and neck cancer Patients who visited to the Department of radiation oncology, between November 1981 to December 1995. After careful physical examinations and CAT scan, Patients were divided into two groups, those with positive lymph node metastases and with negative lymph node metastases. The nodal status were classified according to the TNM system of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Besults : Four-hundred and sixteen Patients out of the 997 patients were lymph node positive $(42\%)$ and 581 patients were lymph node negative $(58\%)$ when they were first presented at the department of radiation oncelogy. According to the AJCC classification, the distribution of positive lymph node is as follow: Nl:106 $(25.5\%),\;N2a:100\;(24\%),\;N2b:68\;(16.4\%),\;N2c:69\;(16.6\%),\;3:73\;(15\%).$ respectively. The frequency of lymph node metastases according to the primary sites is as follow : larynx 283 $(28.5\%)$, paranasal sinuses: 182 $(18\%),\;oropharynx:144\;(14.5\%)\;nasopharynx:122(12\%),\;oral\;cavity\;92\;(9\%),\;hypopharynx:71\;(7\%),\;falivary\;gland:58\;(6\%)$ unknown primary:31 $(3\%),\;skin:\;14(2\%)$,. The most frequent Primary site for the positive Iymph node metastases was nasopharynx $(71\%)$ followed by hypopharynx $(69\%),\;oropharynx\;(64\%),\;oral\;cavity\;(39\%)$ The most common histologic type was squamous cell carcinoma (652/997: $65.4\%$). followed by malignant lymphoma $(109/997:11\%)$. Conclusion : Statistical results of lymph node metastases from head and neck cancer at our department were very similar to those obtained from other countries. It is concluded that the location of Primary cancer influences sites of metastases on head and neck, and stage of the primary cancer also influences the development of metastatic lesions. Since the present study is limited on the data collected from one institute. further statistical analyses on Korean cancer Patients are warrented.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.373-384
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• 2003

This study analyses the soil loss due to cropland increase in the Hoeryeung area of northeast Korea, using Landsat images of 1987 TM and 2001 ETM, together with DTED, soil and geological maps, and rainfall data of 20 years. Items of land cover and land use were categorized as cropland, settlement, forest, river zone, and sand deposit by supervised classification with spectral bands 1, 2 and 3. RUSLE model is used for estimation of soil loss, and AML language for calculation of soil loss volumes. Fourier transformation method is used for unification of the geographical grids between Landsat images and DTED. GTD was selected from 1:50,000 topographic map. Main sources of soil losses over 100 ton/year may be the river zone and settlement in the both times of 1987 and 2001, but the image of the 2001 shows that sources areas have developed up to the higher mountain slopes. In the cropland average, increases of hight and gradient are 24m and $0.8^{\circ}$ from 1987 to 2001. In the case of new developed cropland, average increases are 75m and $2.5^{\circ}$, and highest soil loss has occurred at the elevation between 300 and 500m. The soil loss 57 ton of 1987 year increased 85 ton of 2001 year. Soil loss is highest in $30{\sim}50^{\circ}$ slope zones in both years, but in 2001 year, soil loss increased under $30^{\circ}$ zones. The size of area over 200 ton/year, indicating higher risk of landslides, have increased from $28.6km^2$ of 1987 year to $48.8km^2$ of 2001 year.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.409-414
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• 2001

Background : Legionella pneumophila has been recognized as an important cause of community-acquired pneumonia(CAP) requiring hospitalization. However, epidemiological data on the occurrence of legionella-related pneumonia is unavailable in Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the etiological importance of legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in patients hospitalized with CAP. Method : The CAP patients over 16 year-old were recruited from July 1999 to June 2000 at the Chunchon Sacred Heart Hospital. Fifty four patients (male 29, female 25, average age $63.8{\pm}15.3$) were included in this study. A diagnosis of a legionella pneumophila infection was based on a urinary antigen test using the Binax Company enzyme immunoassay. The severity of pneumonia was assessed using the Fine's PORT scoring system. Result : The average Fine's PORT score was 99.7(${\pm}44.9$). According to the risk classification proposed by the Infectious Disease Society of America, the number of patients in each class(from class I to class V) were 6(11.1%), 13(24.1%), 9(16.7%), 14(25.8%), and 12(22.2%), respectively. Thirty two patients(59.3%) were initially admitted to the intensive care unit. The mortality rate was 16.7%(9 in 54). In all patients, urinary antigens to Legionella pnewnophila serogroup 1 were not detected. Conclusion : Legionella pnewnophila may play little role in causing adult CAP in Korea. Therefore, the routine use of macrolide in the empirical treatment of the CAP patients based upon the ATS guidelines(1993) in Korea should be reevaluated.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.1
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• pp.7-19
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• 2012

After having announced legislation for threatened or endangered species on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants in 2005, the Korea Ministry of Environment proposed (in June 2011) amending the list, thereby delisting or reclassifying endangered species using new quantitative criteria for two levels (I and II), as well as status reviews. The new legislation included 40 species remained in their original endangered status, but 19 species were delisted, 5 species were proposed as candidates for delisting, 29 species were given a new endangered listing, and 3 species were proposed for an endangered listing in Korea. We assessed the threatened status of 98 plants using the IUCN Red List Criteria (version 3.1) at the global level, and compared the Ministry's revised criteria with the IUCN Red List Criteria and ESA criteria used in the USA. Most species proposed by the Ministry do not qualify as threatened and one of the major difficulties found in applying IUCN Red List Criteria at the global scale was a lack of knowledge on the status of species at broader geographic scales and the perceived difficulty this causes. Under the current classification process, many endangered species, such as Abeliophyllum distichum, Leontice microrhyncha, Echinosophora koreensis, Leontopodium coreanum, Iris odaesanensis, and Corylopsis coreana at global level were excluded here. Knowledge gaps and uncertainties mean that the number of taxa at high risk of extinction may be substantially greater than is currently understood. Due to a lack of information on its taxonomic status, currently there is controversy over the Red List status of Physocarpus insularis. Also, Caragana koreana, which was an invalidly published name, should be excluded here. Although the Korea Ministry of Environment insisted this procedure was conducted by applying the modified IUCN threat categories and definitions, this evaluation has been carried out based only on subjective views and misapplication of the IUCN Red List Criteria. The current listings by the Korea Ministry of Environment should be challenged. We suggest that broad species concepts on endemic species are applied and also criteria that adequately address the proper quantitative knowledge should be used. It is suggested that the highest priorities for the Red List should be given to endemic species at least in the Korean peninsula first at global scale.